How do photographers sign their art? Artists often paint their signatures, initials, or nicknames on their canvases as a finishing touch to their paintings. However, photographers have never been able to "sign" their photos, with the exception of the watermark. Before the advent of the digital world, publications and organizations used stamps on the back of images to identify the sources of images. Some even used raised stamps to leave raised marks on the print.
Why Watermark?
With the advent of digital photography, the ability to easily steal photos from websites has emerged with other tools as well. Wow, this is a very beautiful photo! The right button of the mouse. Save to desktop. Or save as wallpaper. Sometimes struggling photographers used the art of others to advertise on their websites, or when given enough digital permission, they used printed images. There was an idea that digital watermarks would avoid this. There is also a marketing side to the watermarks. Easily identifying your work will help your audience find you and your other work, especially if it is shared online.
Why Not Watermark?
For those trying to avoid photo theft, watermarks can be a good example of how to keep honest people honest. There are so many ways to delete an image on the internet today that if someone wants your image, they will find a way to get it. And if you really want to claim that your image belongs to them, there are some tricky ways to remove the watermarks or you can use the online tools like SoftOrbits.
Give Thought to Your Watermark
Writing your name in a standard Photoshop font may not benefit your business or brand. Some photographers create logos, while others duplicate their signatures. The options are endless, but if you're about to create a beautiful photo that takes a lot of effort to create, be sure to put a little effort into the watermark design.
Size Matters
You want a watermark reading, but not too much. We have all seen watermarks on images, they are so small that they cannot be read, which negates the whole purpose. Most of us have seen watermarks so horribly that you can't tell what the image below looks like. Choose a conservative size.
Does the Watermark Create a New Focal Point?
How do you immediately know that an image you see has a watermark on it? Well, because your eyes may be looking directly at that item, it doesn't belong in the watermark in the image. Adding a watermark, especially if done incorrectly, will add a focal point to the image.